Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.
Pets in the vehicle are more common during the holiday season and especially during summer vacations from school. While you might not think much of your family furry friend sitting in the car beside you, what you have is a high risk for a catastrophic accident that will not only injure your pet, but you and any other passengers you have along for the ride.
According to data from AAA, pet travel is common. In fact, 56 percent of motorists have driven with their pet in their car at least once in the month, and more than half admitted to not looking at the road and spending more time looking at their pet.
Your pet companion may go with you everywhere you go, but dogs and other pets in the vehicle must be restrained. Unrestrained parts are a heavy distraction – almost as bad as texting and driving.
Think about how you act when your furry friend is in the passenger seat next to you or even in the cargo hold. They are quite the distraction when you consider how they affect your driving, including:
The amount of distractions that a pet creates while on the road is astounding and yet many motorists still do it, mostly because they do not realize that they are distracted.
Not only do more than 84 percent of drivers say that they have their pets along for a road trip, but sadly only 16 percent restrain those dogs while driving.
Worse, 17 percent allow their pet to sit on their lap while driving, and 13 percent have admitted to giving their pets treats and water while operating a vehicle. Out of those in the survey, another four percent admitted to playing with their dog while driving.
Very few motorists use pet restraints for their animals inside the vehicle. One of the best ways to minimize distractions from our pets is to restrain them while driving. While you might have numerous reasons for not restraining your pet, most of these reasons have to do with your perception of your pet’s temperament. You might assume your pet is calm; therefore, they do not need to be restrained. Other times, you might assume a quick trip down the street is not worth the effort.
A pet restraint system not only limits the distraction, but can also protect your pet in the event you are in an accident. Anything that is unrestrained in a vehicle has the chance of violently moving through that vehicle, which in turn means that you or a passenger could be severely injured if struck by the pet.
Just some reasons you should consider a pet restraint system in your car include:
Some states are now taking notice of the dangers of having pets in the vehicle. More states are enacting laws that would require you to not only have a pet in the back of the vehicle, but restrained. Take Hawaii for example, they are making it illegal to have your pet on your lap while driving.
Have you ever considered how much force a pet would be in a motor vehicle accident if they were to strike you? A dog that is unrestrained creates an incredible amount of force.
For example, a 10-pound unrestrained dog will generate up to 500 pounds of force in a 50 mile per hour impact. That is a small dog with a catastrophic amount of damage. Worse, a large breed dog that weighs 80 pounds can generate up to 2,400 pounds of force in a 30 mile per hour crash; therefore, driving down the street in your neighborhood to the store with your dog in the car could lead to a fatal accident.
If you do need to travel with a pet, you should not have to worry about an accident harming you, your passengers or your furry friend.
Instead, there are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.
When you are riding in a vehicle and you are injured by an unrestrained pet that belongs to the driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
You may suffer broken bones, head trauma, or internal organ damage from being struck by an unrestrained animal in the car; therefore, you should receive compensation for those injuries.
Some damages you may be able to receive from the driver include:
If you or a loved one was injured in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. To explore those options and exercise your rights, speak with an injury attorney.
The team at Malman Law right here in Chicago can help you with your case. Our attorneys know what you and your family members are going through and we want to help you receive the compensation you need for your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Speak with us now during a free consultation by calling 888-307-7068 or by contacting a team member online.
Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.
Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024